Giant Slug from Coffin Bay, South Australia
August 31, 2006
From: Mark Hood
Can someone shed some light on the most amazing slug I have ever seen!
It is huge, 300 mm plus across, Domed top with nobs of differing sizes protuding up from dome. Weight about 2 kg. Deep maroon almost purple in colour. May have had gills in between the "foot" and the dome
Locality: Coffin Bay, 6 feet, South Australia, Southern ocean, 28 August 2006, Sand bottom in oyster lease. Length: 300 mm
Mark Hood
hood1@bigpond.com
Hood,M, 2006 (Aug 31) Giant Slug from Coffin Bay, South Australia . [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17655Dear Mark,
This is a pleurobranch or side-gilled slug called Pleurobranchus hilli. At present it has been recorded from temperate southern and south-eastern Australia.
As you can see in your lower photo, it certainly has a large gill along the right side of the body between the foot and the mantle - which is why this group are often called the side-gilled slugs. The white blob alongside the gill is part of the reproductive organs which open alongside the gill. There are not that many records of this species, but is seems to be quite common at times in sandy subtidal locations. Have a look at the other messages about this species attached to the Fact Sheet.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
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